Louisville warming centers open for vulnerable residents during extreme cold

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — With dangerously cold temperatures gripping the region, Metro Louisville is stepping up efforts to protect its most vulnerable residents.

The city is providing funding to keep warming centers open, offering a safe refuge for those without a warm place to stay.

In Shively, a local church has been transformed into one of these centers. Exodus Family Ministries is running the operation, which offers food, drinks, and warmth for people who are homeless or facing severe weather conditions.

Elizabeth Commons, a 57-year-old homeless woman, was one of the many seeking refuge Tuesday.

“I was outside in the cold, and the van came by. They asked me to come to the warming center,” Commons said. “I got in the van and was greeted warmly with great food.”

The center has become a lifeline for many, including 58-year-old Anna Purcell, who has been struggling with homelessness and a broken-down truck.

“It's freezing out there, and the truck won’t start. I don’t have heat, and I don’t want to leave everything I own,” said Purcell.

The Exodus Family Ministries center has been operating with support from Metro Louisville, which recently allocated additional funding to keep these centers open during extreme weather.

“We’re boots on the ground,” said Shane Schlatter, executive director of Exodus Family Ministries. “We know it's needed, and we know it’s saving lives.”

Schlatter’s nonprofit has been running a daily shuttle service to bring people in from the streets.

"We've averaged between 17 and 30 people almost every day," he said. The warming center will remain open through Thursday, and could reopen next week if needed."

For many, the danger of exposure is real.

“Right now, you could die just going to sleep,” Purcell said.

Commons agreed, noting, “I know they saved my life. How do I know that? Because I was freezing.”

The city’s initiative aims to ensure that no one has to endure these deadly temperatures on the streets.

“We have folks we work with, and we go out to check on them,” Schlatter explained. “We’ve had people brought to us by the city, police, and even community members."

As temperatures dip to near single digits, the warming centers provide a critical lifeline, offering warmth, food, and essential supplies like gloves and hand warmers. The hope is that these efforts will not only provide immediate relief but also help connect individuals with long-term resources and housing options.

“We want people to leave here more connected than when they arrived,” Schlatter said.

The centers are part of an ongoing effort to address homelessness and support the community during the coldest months of the year.

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